Lindsay D. Mattison is a professional chef, food writer, and amateur gardener. She is currently writing a cookbook that aims to teach home cooks how to write without a recipe. Mercer is a major supplier of culinary school knife kits. Because of its performance and low price, it’s easy to see why, and to choose this set as our Best Value pick. The Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Slim Knife Block Set is the best knife set we’ve tested. We may get paid by brands or deals, including promoted items.
The primary reason Cuisinart uses this steel is that it’s cheap. Using cheaper steel allows them to sell affordable knives, even if the edge retention, stain resistance, and overall quality suffer as a result. Although Cookware Sets collections have differences in design, the materials are mostly the same.
We’ve sharpened the first set we had only a few times in the five years we’ve had them. I’ve purchased these for gifts because people comment on them when they come for dinner. And while a full explanation of every type of kitchen knife is outside the scope of this article, I can direct you to my article on essential types of kitchen knives for the at-home chef. There, I explain the design and function of 19 different knives, with examples of how they’re used. Brightly colored and coated in ceramic around a stainless steel core, the Advantage series is Cuisinart’s most specialized. That’s because the colors aren’t just meant for decoration.
In the gold standard full tang knives, one piece of steel will extend from the tip of the handle through the butt of the knife. The Cuisinart Classic, Graphix, and Nitrogen are full tang knives. Each knife comes with a matching blade sleeve to prevent dulling — and protect you while you’re rummaging though the kitchen drawer. Not only are the jewel tones a fun pop of color, but they also make it a breeze to reach for just the right tool for each task — as well as reduce the risk of cross-contamination during food prep.
I live in Brooklyn where I write about food subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gadgets and commerce. Anything with sesame is my all-time favorite food this week. Nab five sharp blades while they’re on deep discount today.
I worked doubles for months during college to scrape together enough money to buy my first knife set. Then, when I went to culinary school, I did the same thing to buy the recommended knife kit! I know what it feels like to spend your hard-earned cash on a purchase like this, and I want you to have all the facts before spending $100, $200, or more gotham steel cookware sets on a set of knives. Unfortunately, the set includes a small serrated knife instead of a larger serrated bread knife, which feels like a grave oversight and knocks it down a few rungs in the scoring. Victorinox, owned by Swiss Army, is known for making great knives at value prices. The Victorinox Fibrox Pro 7-Piece Knife Block Set is no exception.
Stamped blades are inexpensive, but they’re rarely as durable as forged blades since they never get heat-treated. Cooking enthusiasts and pros may use a different knife for each task, swapping their all-purpose chef’s knife for a smaller utility knife when chopping small items like shallots. The tests evaluated performance, value, and ease of storage. We chopped onions and thinly sliced basil with the chef’s knife, peeled apples and segmented citrus with the paring knives, and sliced bread and sandwiches with the serrated knife. We selected the top-rated knife sets at different price points from most major knife manufacturers, then tested the set’s performance as a whole.
So, we can assume this is the angle Cuisinart knives are sharpened to at the factory. Assuming Cuisinart’s manufacturers in China are hardening their blades as much as possible, 55 is still a low rating for a kitchen knife (one of the lowest I’ve seen, and I’ve reviewed dozens of brands). Two of its collections, the Modernist and Graphite gotham steel cookware sets collections, boast sleek and modern-looking stainless steel handles, which set them apart. Some cooks may find appeal in the fact that Cutco is, according to Prudent Reviews, one of the few remaining domestic cutlery manufacturers. Just because the brand is produced on American soil doesn’t mean it’s readily available, though.